Tank-indicator.



T. J'. M-ALoNEY.-

TANK INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.12, 1910.

Patented Deo. 26, 1911..

, A 'STATES' PATENT @Fh-mm t THOMAS MALONEY,` F JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

ple, inexpensive,

- invention,

TANK-INDICATOR. .n

Specification of Letters Patent. Application led November 12, 1919. Serial No. 591,921.

To all whom t may concern:

A Be it lmown that I, THOMAS J. MALONEY,

within a tank, and it has for its main ob-y ject the production kof a device of-thischaracter which is readily of ordinary construction and which may remain as a permanent part o fthe .tank or be readily removed therefrom 1f desired.

Another object is the production of a de-y vice of this general character which is simefticient and not liable to JVV`th these and other objectsnot specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain constructions and combinations which will be hereinafter fully described and then specifically pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which like characters of reference indicate the same parts, Figure l is a plan view of a device constructed in accordance with the Fig. 2 is a side elevationof the structure shown in Fig. 1, partly in section, Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2 of the vindicating means and rack, Fig. 4 is a sectional side elevation illustrating the operation'of the device, and Fig. 5 is a similar section showing the various parts in the inoperative position in which they are normally held.

In carrying the invention into efl'ect, there is provided a tank of any approved constructlon. In the deviceselected to illustrate the invention, a portable tank 1 is em ployed, this tank being of the type usually employed for storing gasolene in automobiles, airships, etc. Since the form of the tank is not essential to an understandingof the present invention, only a broken section of the same is shown in the drawings. This tank is provided with an aperture by means attachable to a tank of which a may be sued, the aperture being formed bya riianged plate 2 riveted to the shell of the tank and provided with a threaded; h'olethrough which fluid maybe poured. and which is closed by a .screw plug 3.

Within the tank, there isi'provided a ioatl which may vary within wide limits. .As shown, however, a hollow ball float 4 is em-v ployed, and this float is small enough to pass through the filling aperture of the tank Patented Dec. 26, 119421,. Y

so that it may be withdrawn from thestk through the aperture whenever desired. Connected with the float 4; is a Amember which extends to the outside of the tank, and this member may vvary, within wide limits. As shown, however, a stem 5 is se cured to the float and extendsr through the bore 6 of the plug `3 before referred to. The stem is adapted to slide freely within the bore'of the plug, its movement being controlled by the movement of the float which is in turn controlled by the quantity of fluid within the tank.

A scale graduated inproportion to vari'- ous quantities of fluidy within the tank is provided, and this scale vmayvary` within wide limits. As shown, however, there is provided a toothed wheel 7` in mesh with teeth cut on the stem 5, and yoperatedthereby. `The wheel is supported by the plug 3 which has a substantially circular extension 8 channeled to receive it, and to which it` is held by means of a screw 9. YThis screw 9 also serves to hold a glass plate 10 in position .over the wheel'. The wheel is provided" with numerals arranged around its face, these numerals representing gallons or other predetermined quant'ties of fluid within the capacity of the tank. The glass plate is -provided with ya mark 11 which cooperates with the numerals on the wheel to indicate the quantity of fluid within the tank. It may be hereuremarked that lthe wheel, when a wheelais used, 0r other scale when another form of scale is'used, is graduated in accordance with the capacity of theparticular tank in connection with which the device is tobe used. To fillthetank, the plug is removed, the float and stem coming away with it. After fluid has been poured into the tank, the plug is replaced and the float will' cause the stem to nse. The stem,

in rising, will causethe wheel to turn'until the fioatl has reached its highest position 5 for the quantity-of fluid within the tank.,

and stem in inoperative position when not in use, and this means may vary within wide limits. As shown, there is provided a cap 12 threaded on the upper end of the plug 3, the purpose of which 1s to hold the ioat and stem in their lowermost position, as shown in Fig. 5, when.. not in use. It will be readily understood that after a readingo'f the indicator has beenI taken, the stem is pushed down and the' cap screwed on the plug, thus housin'g'the stem in inoperative posltion and Ipreventing accidental injury to the mechanism.

In view of the foregoing, a detailed description of the operation of thev device is so deemed; unnecessary and is omitted in vthe interest of brevity. v

Changes and variations may be made in the 'structure by means of which the inventiony is. carried into eect. The invention therefore, is not to be restricted to the precise details of lthestructure shown yand described.

What is claimed is: 1. In a tankvindi'cator, the combination 40 with. atank having an aperture by means of which vit may be lled, of a bored plug for closing the aperture, a float within the tank, a member connected with the ioat and extending through the bore of the plugfto theoutside of the tank, and a scale member-carried by the plugand graduated in proportion to various quantities of iuid within the tank andoperated by the member. 2.7In atank indicator, thecombination with a tank having an aperture by means of which it. may be illed,vof a bored plug for closing -the aperture, a float within the tank, a stem secured to the float and adapted to slide through the bore of the plug, and a 515 scale member carried by the plug and graduated 4in proportion to various quantities of fluid within the tankv and operated by the stem. 3. In a tank indicator, -the combination with a tank having an aperture by means of which it maybe -filled, of a bored plug for closing thel aperture, a float within the tank and radapted to pass through the filling aperture of the tank, a stem secured to the 4615 ioat and adapted to slide through the bore ,the stem, and a cap ada ted to land adapted to pass through the llingaerof the plug,'and"a scale member carried by the plug and aduated in proportion to v arious. quantities of iuid within the tank and o rated bythe stem.

4. a tank indicator,'*the combination 70 with a tank having an aperture by means of which it may be Illed,of a bored plug for closing the aperture, a ioat within the tank and adapted to ass through the filling a r- A ture of the ta a stem secured tothe oat and adapted `to slide'through the bore ofthe ,A plug,a scale member carried by the' plug and Vgraduated in proportion to various quantities vof fluid in t e tank and e erated by secured on the plug andI adapte to holdv the stem and float ininoperative position.

5. In a tank indicator, the combination if withfa tank havinl an aperture by meansfof .v i

0r ses4 which it may be led, of'a bored plug closing the aperture, a float within the. tank ture of thetank, a stem secured tothe oat and adapted toslide through the bore'of the plug, a wheel carried by the plug and oper- 9o ated by the stem and graduated in proportion to various quantities .of fluid within the tank, and a cap adapted to be threaded on the plug and adapted to hold the stem and v float in inoperative position. A- 95 6. In a'tank indlcator, the combination with a tank having an aperture by means of which it may be illed, of a bored plug for closing the aperture,'a float within thetank and adapted to pass through the filling aperture of the. tank, a toothed stem secured to the float and adapted to slide through the' bore' of theplug, a toothed wheel carried by the plug and in mesh 'with the toothed stem and graduated in pro ortion to various quantities f iuid withln the tank, and a. cap adapted to be threaded on the plug Aand adapted to hold .the stem and wheel in in? operative position.

7*. In a tank indicator, thc combination with a tank having an aperture by means of which it may be'illed, of a bored plug for A closing the aperture, said plug being prol vided with a recessed extension on one side, a float within the tank and adapted to pass through the filling apertureof the tank, a toothed stem secured to the ioat and adaptl ed to slide through the bore of the plug, ,a toothed wheel supported by the'plug within 4the recessed extension and in mesh with the 120 stem and graduated in proportion to various quantities of fluid within the tank, and a cap adapted to be threaded on the plug and adapted to hold the vstem and float in inoperative position.

8. In a tank indicator, the combination with a tank having an aperture by means of which it may be filled, of a bored plug for 1 closing the aperture, a float within the tank,

a member connected with the ioat and ex- 130 tending through the bore of the A' lug to thel 'In testimony whereof, IA havesigned my outside of the. tank, a scale mem er carried name to this specification in the presence of by the plug and graduated in roportion to two subscribing witnesses. v t

various quantities of :duid wit in the tank THOMAS J. MALONEY. 5 and operated by the member, and means for Witnesses: K holding the oat and member .in inoperative SYDNEY I. PREsGo'rr,

position. FRANKH. VICK, Jr. 

